Before I start to prepare my blog report on yesterday's splendid Smallspace 9 Event (Which I should add has a rather good blog-related aspect to it!) here's some photos of my Ideal Boaterific 'Whirl-A-Way' Runabout boat.
As with the others it comes in a plastic display case, plastic moulded base and carded backdrop showing a painted ocean scene . No spring clip holding it in place, unfortunately.
Note the backdrop has had a slight alteration. In the top right hand corner the wording has been blanked out. I'm assuming this was done at some point during late into the production so backing cards didn't need to match what was in the box. In this case the backing card is actually used for the Boaterific 'Barracuda' Sport Fisherman boat.
The 'Whirl-A- Way' is one of six, which was later increased to eight 'Marine Classics' motorised toy boats brought out by Ideal during 1966/67 using their unique removable electric motor also used in their 'Motorific' Cars and 'Zeroid' Robot range.
The motor and the batteries are stowed below decks in the deep hull. This also houses the 'automatic bailer' which is designed to pump out any water resting at the base of the hull, or bilge, so the motor and batteries are protected from shorts.
As I've said in my previous Boaterific posts, the toy boats have lots of delicate chromed detail which is unsurprisingly prone to being damaged, and my Whirl-a-Way is no exception; in fact its had more than it's fair share of knocks.
It's missing its mast and bow flag pole, and some it chrome is peeling off, but, in spite of that, it's still in reasonable shape.
Another small point I noticed is the Whirl-a-way is flying an American flag this time, unlike my Barracuda and King of the Sea, which both sport Union Jacks.
Sadly, that's the last of my Boaterfic posts for now, shipmates, as I'm currently missing the remaining two in the set - The 'Sea Wolf' Diesel Yacht and the' Marlin Tower' Fisherman, but hopefully some of you have enjoyed seeing this old seadog's marine collection.
They are great, they are.
ReplyDeleteThey certainly are a nice set of vintage toys, Kev.
DeleteThank you for sharing. I have a vague memory of seeing these models back in the 60's and dismissing them due to the deep hulls which were unrealistic in most cases. What's good for a tug boat is wrong for a run about launch.
ReplyDeleteThey do make a colourful collection seen today.
Always glad to get the Boaterific fleet out once in a while, Terra.
DeleteLooking forward to your blog-related aspect from Smallspace 9, Scoop.
ReplyDeleteHa,ha! Patience Mish ; )
DeleteBeautiful that Scoop!
ReplyDeleteIt's not bad at all, Woodsy
DeleteLovely series of blog posts! I've always been fascinated by clear bubble packaged toys. Having run through the Zeroids and Boateriffic, I think you may have exhausted Ideal's venture into that style. I recall their Motoriffic cars were card boxed.. PROVE ME WRONG!!!
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are several other 60s toy lines with bubble packaging, Edai Grip, Major Matt Mason and the Triag-Lionel science kits ( I had Edison's Light Bulb!)
Hmmm, plenty of Blog material still lurking out there!
Thanks Lewis. The only Motorific car I had as a youngster, a TR3 I think? came in a track set, and I can't recall how it was packaged. I can't say I really liked bubblepacked toys though, as they did , of course ruin the card artwork when you took them out.
DeleteI don't have any Matt Mason toys, never really got back into it, and as I prefer to blog about stuff I own, Matt and Co. will have to stay on the Moon for now ;)